The Olympic Games
Do you know when and where the next Olympic
Games will be held? D you know how the Olympic Games began?
ANCIENT
The beginning
Three thousand years ago people came from all over Greece to attend a special festival at Olympia. There were
celebrations and races. As time passed, the races grew bigger and more events
were included, such as wrestling, discus and javelin throwing, and chariot
racing. These events were only for men.
A time of peace
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Parades
At the beginning of the
games, athletes took part in a parade on the way to the sports stadium.
Thousands of people lined the streets to cheer them. A trumpet was used to
start each event.
Winner takes all
Only the winner of each
event won a prize. Athletes in second and third place got nothing. The winner
was awarded a wreath made of laurel leaves to wear round his head.
MODERN
The modern Olympics
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The marathon
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The flag
T-he Olympic Flag shows five rings linked together. The rings
stand for the five continents -Europe, Asia, Africa, America
and Australasia. Each ring is a different
colour. They are linked together to show that people from all five continents
are joined together in peaceful and friendly competition.
The flame
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THE PARALYMPIC GAMES
What are they?
The Paralympic Games are like the Olympic Games except that they
are for
people with disabilities. They, too, take place every four years.
The Paralympic Games started as a small event and got bigger and bigger.
When did they begin?
The first Games were held in 1948 when patients from a hospital in
England,
competed with other patients from other hospitals. Most of the competitors were
in wheelchairs.
The Games get bigger
In 1976 the Games were enlarged to include blind people and people
without arms and legs, but it wasn't until 1988 that the Games became really
international. For the first time the Games were televised and seen all over
the world.
The Games today
Today, over 3,500 atheletes from 100 countries take part in the
Paralympic Games. Events include archery, basketball, athletics, swlmming and
'goalball' -a version of football played by blind people.